Point-of-purchase advertising by a cantilevered display mechanism and related methods

Abstract

Novel point-of-purchase cantilevered deflectable display assemblies, which normally extend transversely into a shopping aisle. Display assemblies which accommodate substitution of one frame-carried form or configuration of advertising for another, which can be radically different, without disconnecting the entire display assembly from its mounting to a molding at a store shelf or like. The advertising frame with which the advertising medium is associated is removably connected to a hanger portion. The hanger portion accommodates the above-mentioned on-site frame and advertisement removal and exchange while the remainder of the display assembly remains in its shelf-mounted or like position. Display assemblies are disclosed which enhance the deflectable nature of the cantilevered distal part of the display assemblies, the manner in which pivoting occurs and is controlled or limited and the way in which the display assemblies are biased toward neutral in the assembled condition.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
       1. A cantilevered display assembly comprising: 
       a distal advertising display segment comprising a frame carrying an illumination system comprising a source of electrical power, circuiting and at least one light peripherally disposed in respect to an advertising area, the display segment further comprising a pivotable mounting hanger portion distally connected to the frame at a proximal region of the frame;  
       a proximal segment comprising a clamp for cantilever mounting the assembly to a molding and a base about which the mounting hanger portion and display segment may be unitarily pivoted responsive to external forces;  
       a return mechanism interposed between the proximal segment and the display segment;  
       an access door carried by the frame through which the source of electrical power is selectively inserted and removed, the access door further accommodating selective insertion of advertising into the advertising area.  
     
     
       2. A cantilevered display assembly according to claim  1  wherein the access door is hinged to the frame and comprises a releasible lock accommodating selective closing and opening of the access door. 
     
     
       3. A cantilevered display assembly comprising: 
       a distal advertising display segment comprising a frame carrying an illumination system comprising a source of electrical power, circuitry and at least one light peripherally disposed in respect to an advertising area, the display segment further comprising a pivotable mounting hanger portion distally connected to the frame at a proximal region of the frame;  
       a proximal segment comprising a clamp for cantilever mounting the assembly to a molding and a base about which the mounting hanger portion and display segment may be unitarily pivoted responsive to external forces;  
       a return mechanism interposed between the proximal segment and the display segment;  
       the frame comprising an access door by which the source of electrical power comprising at least one battery is selectively inserted and removed from the illumination system and through which planar advertising is selectively inserted and removed from within the frame.  
     
     
       4. A cantilevered display assembly according to claim  3  wherein the planar advertising comprises card is encased in a plastic carrier. 
     
     
       5. A cantilevered display assembly comprising: 
       a distal advertising display segment comprising a frame peripherally disposed in respect to an advertising area, the display segment further comprising a pivotable mounting hanger portion distally connected to the frame at a proximal region of the frame;  
       a proximal segment comprising a clamp for cantilever mounting the assembly to a molding and a base about which the mounting hanger portion and display segment may be unitarily pivoted responsive to external forces;  
       a return mechanism interposed between the proximal segment and the display segment;  
       interrelated male/female structure accommodating pivoting of the distal advertising segment in respect to the proximal segment, the male/female structure comprising a plurality of rounded male projections each disposed compressively and contiguously, under force of the return mechanism, in a matching female recess;  
       the plurality of rounded male projections and matching female recesses comprising four each spaced from the others, two extending generally vertically and two extending generally horizontally, each male projection comprising a cylindrical-shaped male surface and each female recess comprising a congruent cylindrical-shaped female surface, thereby defining four spaced axes of rotation respectively accommodating (a) pivoting of the advertising display segment to one side about a generally vertical axis, (b) pivoting of the advertising display segment to another side about another generally vertical axis, (c) pivoting of the advertising display segment upwardly about a first generally horizontal axis and (d) pivoting of the advertising display segment downwardly about a second generally horizontal axis, each pivoting action being counter to compression imposed by the return mechanism.  
     
     
       6. A cantilevered display assembly comprising: 
       a distal advertising display segment comprising a frame peripherally disposed in respect to an advertising area, the display segment further comprising a pivotable mounting hanger portion distally connected to the frame at a proximal region of the frame;  
       a proximal segment comprising a clamp for cantilever mounting the assembly to a molding and a base about which the mounting hanger portion and display segment may be unitarily pivoted responsive to external forces;  
       a return mechanism interposed between the proximal segment and the display segment;  
       the proximal segment and the distal advertising display segment being under compressive force imposed by the return mechanism thereby accommodating pivoting up, down and laterally in either direction;  
       the proximal segment and the display segment collectively comprising four sets of stops, the stops of each set when contiguously engaging each other limits the extent to which the display segment is permitted to pivot (a) laterally in either direction, (b) upwardly and (c) downwardly.  
     
     
       7. A cantilevered display assembly comprising: 
       a distal advertising display segment comprising a frame peripherally disposed in respect to an advertising area, the display segment further comprising a pivotable mounting hanger portion distally connected to the frame at a proximal region of the frame;  
       a proximal segment comprising a clamp for cantilever mounting the assembly to a molding and a base about which the mounting hanger portion and display segment may be unitarily pivoted responsive to external forces;  
       a return mechanism interposed between the proximal segment and the display segment;  
       the return mechanism being axially extendible by a predetermined distance and the proximal and distal segments comprising overlapping stops, the distance of the overlap being greater than the predetermined distance whereby substantial twisting rotation of the distal segment in respect to the proximal segment is prevented.